It Pays Backs To Play Hard

Ricky Watters is the biggest contributor. Well, maybe, it’s Tim Lappano. It really depends on whose version of the accounting you believe.

Seattle Seahawks running backs and Lappano, their position coach, have a system of fines for misgivings such as dropped passes, missed assignments and fumbles. It’s designed to keep concentration sharp during training-camp drills.

“The bottom line is it helps us get better,” said Lappano, whose tab rises with each cuss word. “We have a system where you have to finish 20 yards each time you get the football. If you get tired and don’t feel like finishing, you’re going to get fined.

“Ricky and I might have been leading after the minicamps.”

Rookie Michael Black has had only a few concentration slip-ups. “I’m down like $40 for a couple of dropped balls, but that includes minicamps, too,” he said. “Ricky’s down like $200.”

Apparently questionable accounting forced Lappano to oust veteran Steve Broussard as treasurer in favor of Mack Strong.

“I just couldn’t trust Bruiser on the (tote) board because he’s at zero and I know that’s not right,” Lappano joked.

“I can’t believe it,” Broussard responded. “I don’t have any biases.”

The fine money eventually is donated to the Seahawks Academy, which assists at-risk seventh- and eighth-graders in Seattle’s central area.

“The players really like that part,” Lappano said.

Young CEO

Austin Glass, an 11-year-old who lives next to the practice fields, is self-employed this summer, selling KoolAid, sports cards and collectable lunch boxes to spectators at training camp. Glass, wearing an oversized Seahawks’ T-shirt, toted his inventory Friday in a wagon carrying a cooler and trunk.

It’s a lengthy walk because he has to circle around the fenced practice fields, but he doesn’t mind. “I made $17 one day,” said Glass, who charges 25 cents per cup of Kool-Aid. “I usually make about $10.”

Glass set up shop last year, too, but couldn’t recall his profit-loss margin. After practices, Glass gathers autographs. His prized possession so far is a signed Ricky Watters’ card. “That’s worth about $10,” he said.

Lackluster practice

On the seventh day of practice, the Seahawks probably should have rested. Coach Dennis Erickson saw too many mental mistakes.

“The worst one we’ve had,” Erickson said. “I told them when we’re in shells (helmets only), we’ve got to have tempo. If we don’t get the tempo up, we’ll come out in pads. So, we’ll see how they operate tomorrow.”

Pain update

Watters and Broussard missed portions or all of practice. Watters has allergies. Broussard? “Just sore, (pause), age,” Erickson said.

Defensive tackle Dan Saleaumua missed practice with a strained abdominal muscle. For the second time in a week, he’ll have a precautionary MRI in Seattle. He had his knee checked one week ago.

Notes

Linebacker Darrin Smith switched from jersey No. 55 to No. 59, which became available Friday when Joe Cain was waived. Smith wore No. 59 for Dallas from 1993-96, but had No. 56 in Philadelphia last year… . Sunday was another day of non-negotiations between the Seahawks and hold-out quarterback Warren Moon… . Although temperatures surpassed the century mark for the first time, Dan Saleaumua watched practice wearing a long-sleeve sweatshirt and a hood… . Two practices today: 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.